The family of the late former chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Wafula Chebukati, has urged Kenyans to allow them to mourn their patriarch in peace as they prepare to lay him to rest.
Amid growing debates over his legacy, the family insists that Chebukati conducted his electoral duties with integrity and should be honored, not vilified.
Speaking from Kisumu, the family, led by John Wafula Chebukati and Joina Nekesa, expressed disappointment over what they termed as character assassination of the late IEBC chairman. They condemned critics for attacking Chebukati’s record in the 2017 and 2022 elections, insisting that he remained a fair and just referee during his tenure.
“I really wish to tell Kenyans, myself included, that the man they are crucifying, that person we are crucifying, we are crucifying that person for the sins he never committed,” a family member remarked.
Despite holding one of Kenya’s most scrutinized public offices, the family maintains that Chebukati never used his position to award jobs or favors to relatives, nor did he engage in corruption. Instead, they describe him as a principled man who upheld integrity throughout his career.
“This man showed us the way to exercise integrity in everything,” said a relative.
Preparations for Chebukati’s final journey are underway, with his body expected to arrive at his home in Kapomboi on Friday, March 7, for prayers before his burial in Sabata, Kiminini Constituency, on March 8. The family has promised a befitting send-off for their fallen patriarch.
With tributes pouring in from across the country, the question remains—will history remember Wafula Chebukati as a hero of democracy or a controversial figure in Kenya’s electoral politics?
